#DangerousBlackKids Responds to Michael Dunn Verdict

Mikhael Simmonds |
2/18/2014, 1:17 p.m.

On Nov. 23 2012, Michael Dunn, a 47-year-old white man, shot into a vehicle carrying four Black teens, killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida. Dunn claimed he fired ten shots when he felt threatened by comments made by the teens after he complained about their loud music, CBS News reports.

The case was sent to Court and on Saturday Feb. 15, 2014 and Dunn was originally charged with four counts: three-counts of attempted second-degree murder and one-count of first-degree murder. Dunn was convicted on the first three counts and faces up to 75 years in prison, the Los Angeles Times reports. But, a judge declared a mis-trial on the fourth count when the jury could not reach a decision on it.

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#DangerousBlackKids Responds to Michael Dunn Verdict

Since the verdict, there have been many reactions from the Black community including a twitter hashtag #DangerousBlackKids, popularized by the Dream Defenders in Florida.

Users posted pictures of their Black children with comments reminding the world that these innocent looking children could be perceived as a threat to society, could be the next Jordan Davis or Trayvon Martin. The tag started by concerned mothers of Black kids, Jamie Nesbitt Golden and Mikki Kendall on Sunday evening continues to trend.